The best views for a day in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park has some of the most beautiful mountain views in the world. You could easily spend weeks hiking in Yosemite and taking in the views. If you’re short of time, you can still see some amazing views in just a few days. Here are the best views for a day in Yosemite National Park.

Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please note that all sales are processed by the linked website, not Rays of Adventure, so you’ll be subject to their privacy policy.

Top views in Yosemite National Park

When you’re planning your trip to Yosemite National Park, make sure you check out this great guide to Yosemite National Park (affiliate). It’s got some great ideas of places to stay, plus some helpful maps to help your trip.

Tunnel View

Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park is one of my favourite views. It’s a great place to start your day as you explore the best views for a day in Yosemite National Park. The view across to the mountain Half Dome are spectacular, and instantly recognisable from all the photos and postcards in Yosemite.

There’s a big parking area at Tunnel View, just before (or after, depending on which direction you’re going) the tunnel through the mountain. You don’t have to walk far at all to get to the wall, where you can see this amazing view. Some people just stop here, take a quick photo and leave. But I’d recommend spending longer here to really take in what you can see. You can walk around a bit to see it at different angles. If you’re visiting in the spring, the waterfall here can be really impressive. However, I was there in late summer so the river and waterfall had all dried up by that point – but it was still an amazing view.

Glacier Point

Glacier Point is a bit further to get to and a slightly longer drive from the ‘main’ area of Yosemite, but I think it’s definitely worth going to. Even if you’ve only got a day in Yosemite National Park I still would recommend going. The drive up to Glacier Point is fairly windy, but the road is well maintained and the views through the trees are great.

At the top, it’s just breathtaking. Words can’t describe the views from up here. My photos below will just show why I think it’s one of my favourite views in the whole world.

Hike the Lower Yosemite Falls trail

There are loads of hiking trails all around Yosemite National Park, and if you’ve got a bit more time in Yosemite I’d definitely recommend checking some out. If you’re short of time, then I’d recommend trying the 1 mile Lower Yosemite Falls trail. You can park in Yosemite Valley, not far from Yosemite Village, and start the easy hike from there. It’s a good option for when the weather is hot, because a lot of the trail is shaded through the trees.

I visited in September, after an unusually hot and dry summer. This meant that the Yosemite Falls waterfall had completely dried up. Although it would have been nice to see the waterfall, it was also fun to climb over the rocks on the dry river bed and see a different side to this area.

Wildlife in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is home to some amazing wildlife. I was really lucky and saw a black bear! It wasn’t even high up on one of the trails, so it was completely unexpected. I was just hiking the Lower Yosemite Falls trail, in a busy area of the park, and I stopped to watch some deer. The deer then suddenly stood up alert, and bolted away. And that’s when I noticed a black bear just behind them! I got an amazing view of the bear as it scurried across the path in front of me and headed back into the forest. It was so unexpected to see a bear there, and just so magical. I feel so lucky!

There’s other wildlife in Yosemite National Park as well. I saw Mule Deer, skunks, ground squirrels and birds including Stellar’s Jay and Ravens. Even if you’re short of time in Yosemite, make sure you take some time to look around and see what wildlife you can spot.

Watch the sunset in Yosemite National Park

For the perfect end to your day in Yosemite National Park, find a spot to watch the beautiful sunset. Watching the sun dip behind the mountains as the sky turns pink is just magical. Take a moment to breathe deeply and just appreciate where you are.

When is the best time of year to visit Yosemite National Park?

Yosemite is beautiful all year round, and each season brings different things to enjoy. You can enjoy many of the best views for a day in Yosemite National Park at any time of the year, although obviously anything is dependent on the weather conditions of the time you’re visiting. Check out the average weather here so you can plan your trip.

If you visit in the winter, you’ll be greeted with beautiful snowy views of the mountains. Spring is the best time of year to see the waterfalls at their best, as they are filled with water from the melting snow. Summer brings long, sunny days which are perfect for hiking when it’s not too hot. However, there is the risk of wildfires in the summer, especially later in the summer if there has been a prolonged spell of hot, dry weather. Autumn brings cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, although the weather can be less predictable. I love visiting Yosemite in late spring/early summer, or late summer/early autumn. I find these times bring the best of everything to Yosemite – a good chance of lovely weather but slightly fewer crowds and cheaper prices than the summer months.

Where should I stay to visit Yosemite?

If you want to stay in a central location right in the heart of Yosemite, then I’d recommend staying in Yosemite Village. You’ll be close to all the sights, and there are a great variety of hotels and restaurants. However, prices here can be expensive and places can get booked up quite far in advance. If you’d like to stay in Yosemite Village, it’s definitely worth booking your hotel at least several months in advance if you can.

If you’re looking for somewhere a bit cheaper to stay, I’d recommend Yosemite View Lodge. It’s just outside the National Park so the prices are a bit cheaper, but it’s still really close for you to drive in for the day. The motel rooms are comfortable, and some have a balcony/terrace overlooking the river. I was lucky to see a skunk one evening while sat outside! There’s a restaurant on site as well which sells some of the best American pizzas I’ve ever had. Perfect after a long day of hiking!

Enjoy your time exploring the best views for a day in Yosemite National Park! Remember to check out this great travel guide for your trip (affiliate). There’s so much more to explore in California, so make sure you have some time to enjoy the rest of the sights! Enjoy the coast and whale watching at Big Sur, the beaches in Santa Barbara, and the sea otters in Monterey. Then head to San Francisco for some big-city fun!